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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MPs' anger at police raid debate | MPs' anger at police raid debate |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Ministers have been accused of clamping down on debate about a police raid on and seizure of material from Tory MP Damian Green's Commons office. | Ministers have been accused of clamping down on debate about a police raid on and seizure of material from Tory MP Damian Green's Commons office. |
| The debate began with a row over how long it should take. The Tories and Lib Dems failed to get the three-hour debate extended to six. | The debate began with a row over how long it should take. The Tories and Lib Dems failed to get the three-hour debate extended to six. |
| They want changes to ministers' plans for a Commons inquiry into the affair. | They want changes to ministers' plans for a Commons inquiry into the affair. |
| Former Tory minister Douglas Hogg began by accusing ministers of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up". | Former Tory minister Douglas Hogg began by accusing ministers of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up". |
| Amid angry exchanges, Tory backbencher Sir Nicholas Winterton told MPs: "Even in Zimbabwe on the 26th January 1982, when Mr Mugabe's police wished to arrest a member of that Parliament, they did not, could not and would not enter the House of Commons in Harare." | Amid angry exchanges, Tory backbencher Sir Nicholas Winterton told MPs: "Even in Zimbabwe on the 26th January 1982, when Mr Mugabe's police wished to arrest a member of that Parliament, they did not, could not and would not enter the House of Commons in Harare." |
| 'Pantomime' | 'Pantomime' |
| For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said it was a "sorry state of affairs" if MPs were not given enough time to debate whether police should enter Parliament. | For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said it was a "sorry state of affairs" if MPs were not given enough time to debate whether police should enter Parliament. |
| "This is the government trying to clamp down on the House of Commons having its say," he said. | "This is the government trying to clamp down on the House of Commons having its say," he said. |
| But deputy Commons leader Chris Bryant insisted three hours was adequate to debate the issues thrown up by the affair, which had already been discussed in debates last week. | But deputy Commons leader Chris Bryant insisted three hours was adequate to debate the issues thrown up by the affair, which had already been discussed in debates last week. |
| It is not only a gross discourtesy to the Speaker but a flagrant abuse of the power of the executive in relation to the interests of this House Theresa MayShadow Commons leader | |
| Labour backbencher Frank Field said the debate was descending into a "pantomime" and MPs would be judged, not on the debate, but how they voted. | Labour backbencher Frank Field said the debate was descending into a "pantomime" and MPs would be judged, not on the debate, but how they voted. |
| "For us, clearly, it's high drama. To most of our constituents it's already descended into farce - and we should actually get ... on with the business of the House." | "For us, clearly, it's high drama. To most of our constituents it's already descended into farce - and we should actually get ... on with the business of the House." |
| However another Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews said the reason Labour benches were packed was because they were on a "thinly disguised three-line whip" which he said was "wholly inappropriate". | However another Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews said the reason Labour benches were packed was because they were on a "thinly disguised three-line whip" which he said was "wholly inappropriate". |
| No warrant | |
| The government won an early vote on how long the debate should take by 308 votes to 234. | The government won an early vote on how long the debate should take by 308 votes to 234. |
| The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police. | The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police. |
| His homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office. | His homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office. |
| It is for neither government nor opposition to pronounce what the evidence is and whether a crime has been committed Harriet HarmanCommons leader | |
| MPs were angry police had been allowed to enter the Commons, without a warrant - something Speaker Michael Martin has already said he regrets. | MPs were angry police had been allowed to enter the Commons, without a warrant - something Speaker Michael Martin has already said he regrets. |
| MPs are now debating the form of a Commons inquiry, announced by last week - amid anger among the opposition parties that it will be dominated by Labour MPs and will not start work until after the police inquiry is completed. | MPs are now debating the form of a Commons inquiry, announced by last week - amid anger among the opposition parties that it will be dominated by Labour MPs and will not start work until after the police inquiry is completed. |
| Commons leader Harriet Harman said a Parliamentary inquiry into the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green, and the search of his Commons office, would look at whether MPs' papers were "properly protected", what led up to the police search and whether "important constitutional principles were properly protected". | Commons leader Harriet Harman said a Parliamentary inquiry into the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green, and the search of his Commons office, would look at whether MPs' papers were "properly protected", what led up to the police search and whether "important constitutional principles were properly protected". |
| Ms Harman said it was important to avoid any perception the inquiry was "breathing down the police's neck" or prejudice any future court proceedings. | |
| She said the inquiry would fall "on the same territory as the current police investigation". | She said the inquiry would fall "on the same territory as the current police investigation". |
| She said ministers and opposition leaders had to be "very careful about what they say". | |
| "It is for neither government nor opposition to pronounce what the evidence is and whether a crime has been committed," she said. | |
| Holding to account | |
| The Speaker had to intervene to remind MPs of the need for "moderate language" as one MP accused Ms Harman of "weasel words". | The Speaker had to intervene to remind MPs of the need for "moderate language" as one MP accused Ms Harman of "weasel words". |
| However her Conservative shadow, Theresa May, said delaying the inquiry would "effectively kick this issue into the long grass" and said the plans outlined by ministers "fly in the face" of those outlined by the Speaker. | |
| "It is not only a gross discourtesy to the Speaker but a flagrant abuse of the power of the executive in relation to the interests of this House," she said. | |
| She said the Tories would not support any inquiry dominated by Labour MPs. The Lib Dems have already said they will boycott the inquiry in its current form. | |
| "MPs must be able to do their job both in representing their constituents and in holding the government to account," she said. | |
| And she said it was wrong to suggest the Commons inquiry could prejudice a police inquiry as the police probe into Home Office leaks was "a different issue" to an investigation into the rights of MPs. | |
| Mr Martin revealed to MPs last Wednesday that he had been told in advance the search of Mr Green's office was to take place, but said he had not been told by Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, who authorised the search, that the police had not had a search warrant. | Mr Martin revealed to MPs last Wednesday that he had been told in advance the search of Mr Green's office was to take place, but said he had not been told by Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, who authorised the search, that the police had not had a search warrant. |